Protest song is back - with a vengeance

[CShine]

The term protest music often conjures up images of unkempt folkies strumming guitars and warbling their dissent in Greenwich Village coffeehouses. All that has changed. Folk music no longer dominates the genre. Today, rebellious political rhetoric can be found in hip-hop, punk, country, metal, alt-rock, and everything in between. Not only has protest music diversified, it seems to be rapidly on the rise.

Some of the new songs, unsurprisingly, address the war on Iraq. But whereas protest songs during the Vietnam era were broadly antiwar in their message, the new batch of political tunes aren't narrowly focused on the recent war. It's more personal than that. Most of the music is targeted at the actions and policies of one man: George W. Bush. And it's often incendiary stuff.

"For better or worse, Bush has stirred up a lot of vitriol in the music community," says David Browne, head music critic for Entertainment Weekly. "There's always been protest songs against presidents, but they have never been near to the level of venom you're seeing now."

That isn't to say no songs are championing the administration's foreign policy - country music has produced hits such as Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue (The Angry American)." But they're being drowned out by the sheer volume of musicians working to oust the Oval Office's current occupant. The musicians range from punk rockers to pop acts to older artists like Patti Smith and Rickie Lee Jones. In all, Mr. Browne reckons protest songs seem to have been more numerous in the past year and a half than in the late '60s. "There just wasn't that concentration of songs during the Vietnam War," he says. Leading the charge in the current round of Bush-whacking is Fat Mike, frontman for the veteran punk rock group NOFX. Mike created the current Billboard-charting compilation entitled "Rock Against Bush," a collection of sneeringly rebellious punk rock songs including ones from mainstream acts like Sum 41, OffSpring, and the Ataris. Twenty-six bands offered songs for the compilation, and many more joined the tour that followed. The idea for the album emerged from the controversy over the Florida vote count in the previous presidential election. The outcome still rankles Fat Mike, who believes the result was unjust.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0604/p11s01-almp.html

[inanna]

1. My 13- year old likes Incubus..

From the article:

"Alternative-rock heartthrobs and MTV darlings Incubus have offered up perhaps the most strident attack on the president with their latest single "Megalomaniac." The controversial video, which has now been relegated to the marginal hours by MTV, depicts a "Leave It To Beaver" family drinking crude oil instead of milk, and a smarmy, baby-kissing Bush look-alike, all shown in a graphic style eerily reminiscent of Nazi war propaganda."

It's an excellent song.

[Carni]

13. Yes, it is

I love that song and I'm sure not 13 lol!

[joeunderdog]

42. I get jacked everytime I hear those lyrics...

"Hey megalomaniac, you're no Jesus.
You're no Elvis...
STEP DOWN!!! STEP DOWN!!! STEP DOWN!!!"

Can't get enoough of it.

Never heard a DJ commenting about its meaning, however, and wonder how many kids really get it.

[CBHagman]

2. This has been building for some time.

It's amazing how many references to Bush and/or his supposed war on terrorism turn up in music today. Even John McCutcheon is in on this ("Not in My Name," on "The Greatest Story Never Told").

[chelaque liberal]

24. Even John McCutcheon?

One of the best anit-war songs ever:

Christmas in the Trenches

by John McCutcheon

My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool.
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany to here
I fought for King and country I love dear.
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung,
The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung
Our families back in England were toasting us that day
Their brave and glorious lads so far away.

I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound
Says I, "Now listen up, me boys!" each soldier strained to hear
As one young German voice sang out so clear.
"He's singing bloody well, you know!" my partner says to me
Soon, one by one, each German voice joined in harmony
The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more
As Christmas brought us respite from the war
As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" struck up some lads from Kent
The next they sang was "Stille Nacht." "Tis 'Silent Night'," says I
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky
"There's someone coming toward us!" the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one long figure trudging from their side
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shown on that plain so bright
As he, bravely, strode unarmed into the night
Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's Land
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well
And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a violin
This curious and unlikely band of men

Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each prepared to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night
"Whose family have I fixed within my sights?"
'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost, so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
Had been crumbled and were gone forevermore

My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well
That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're the same

© 1984 John McCutcheon - All rights reserved

[GCP]

37. This was a true story.

The first Christmas of the war, the soldiers came out of the trenches and met in no-man's-land after the Germans started singing Christmas carols.
If only they'd all agreed not to start shooting at each other again the next day, the war would have been over then and there and millions of men would not have died in the next 4 years.
But that War Machine had to be fed with the blood of young men. The leaders would probably have had their own men shot rather than be told that they weren't fighting such a stupid unnecessary war any more. That, in itself, goes to show the sheer mindlessness of war.
The Christmas Truce never happened again - I'm sure the generals had something to do with that. They know it's so much harder having to kill someone you've met and found out that they're human too. So the fighting went on with no respite from then on.

[saigon68]

39. Its a true story all right

Corporate coffers need to be constantly renewed.

[Zhade]

27. Blowback was doing this stuff years before the corporate bands woke up.

If you haven't heard Blowback, check them out. True punk sound. Not that I'm an aficionado, but I think they rock.

[Joanne98]

3. How do you download Fat Mike's music?

I'm not that good at this. :)

[oldhat]

4. http://www.punkvoter.com

[Kikosexy2]

5. Highly recommend...

Rickie Lee Jones latest--there's the opening song "Ugly Man" aimed at Dubya, there's another song (can't recall title right now) aimed at the 2000 elections and then there's "Tell Somebody" aimed at the Patriot Act. Other good tunes included as well. Rickie's back in form--snazzy, jazzy and full of good humor too.

[Nlighten1]

6. It sure is too bad that RATM is gone.

They had the ultimate protest songs.

[Zhade]

30. I hear that! RATM should get back together, now's a good time!

God, I miss their stuff.

Think I'll spin their self-titled debut tonight.

[Psst_Im_Not_Here]

7. Another good one

Live- "What Are We Fighting For?" on the Birds of Pray CD

[TroubleMan]

8. Like reggae? ... "Bush and Sadaam" by Everton Blender

great song.

[nodehopper]

9. Remeber "Boom"?

The System of a Down song with the Michael Moore-directed video?

And Eminem's "The Eminem Show" critiques the Bush regime.

I was just reading in Star (at the gym) today that on her new tour Madonna is performing "American Life" dressed in fatigues and with clips of the war, and kids dying projected behind her.

It's all cultural momentum.

[chicaloca]

10. That article makes me SO HAPPY!!!

:bounce:

Also, this song's about two years old, but when I was in Europe, George Michael's "Shoot the Dog" was huge. If anybody here hasn't seen the video for this song, go find it and watch it. You won't regret it.

[happynewyear]

11. "dubya Cowboy"

That is the name of a punk rock band (I think) that I heard of a few years ago actually. I hope they are making a bundle! :D h

[saigon68]

12. "BRING THE BOYS HOME" ----FREDA PAYNE

Banned on armed forces radio-- seemed like everyone was playing it.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000641CF/ref%3Dnosim/personalho0ff-20/102-8245617-6728129

[htuttle]

14. If you haven't listened to Michael Franti, you're missing out!

Bomb the world (armageddon version)

I don't understand the whole reason why
You tellin' us all that we need to unify
Rally round the flag
And beat the drums of war
Sing the same old songs
Ya know we heard 'em all before
You tellin' me it's unpatriotic
But i call it what i see it
When i see it's idiotic
The tears of one mother
Are the same as any other
Drop food on the kids
While you're murderin' their fathers
But don't bother to show it on cnn
Brothers and sisters don't believe them
It's not a war against evil
It's really just revenge
Engaged on the poorest by the same rich men
Fight terrorists wherever they be found
But why you not bombing tim mcveigh's hometown
You can say what you want propaganda television
But all bombing is terrorism
(chorus)


We can chase down all our enemies
Bring them to their knees
We can bomb the world to pieces
But we can't bomb it into peace
Whoa we may even find a solution
To hunger and disease
We can bomb the world to pieces
But we can't bomb it into peace

ps. Sly and Robbie play on this version! Check it out!

[arikara]

28. I love Michael Franti

I never listen to hip hop/rap but he is hot hot hot! His Stay Human album is a masterpiece. Amy Goodman plays Rock the Nation on DemocracyNow all the time.

You can download some of his music on his website.

http://www.spearheadvibrations.com/sounds.html

[CHIMO]

15. An Old Fogie

Can't connect with the machine gun fire of rap.

My type is from the 60's.

Sara Thomsen

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/sarat/from/jkloss

Brings back ideals and the hope for the future for me.

[goforit]

16. The "Good Force" is rising!!!!

Bring them on!!!

[chenGOD]

17. Everyone should go check out Protest Records...(link inside)

It's a site started by Sonic Youth and has all sorts of artists doing protest songs.

http://www.protest-records.com/

I highly recommend finding Jim O'Rourke's cover of "Pictures of Adolph", but there are a lot of good songs on that site.

[kidrocks]

19. John Cougar Melloncamp

My favorite anti-Bush protest song is by John Cougar Melloncamp. Or is it John Cougar? Or is it John Mellencamp? Whatever. I've heard it a few times but the title of the song escapes me. Anyone know the song?

[salin]

41. John Mellencamp

I believe the name of the song is "on Washington" (or to washington?) I think it was available to view from his website.

[Zhade]

29. The DJ Spooky "Not In Our Name" remix RULES.

Awesome song.

[chenGOD]

36. That's cause DJ Spooky rules period.

Fantastic stuff done by Paul D. Miller. Check out his latest "Dubtometry" if you haven't already...

But yeah that's a great website, lots of great tracks.

[RoyGBiv]

33. Thanks for the link...

There's some great stuff there.

And I love the "steal this stuff" nod at the beginning.

[kidrocks]

18. John Cougar Melloncamp

My favorite anti-Bush protest song is by John Cougar Melloncamp. Or is it John Cougar? Or is it John Mellencamp? Whatever. I've heard it a few times but the title of the song escapes me. Anyone know the song?

[Solidarity]

20. The Lyrics To Bring The Boys Home

BRING THE BOYS HOME
Freda Payne

Fathers are pleading, lovers are all alone
Mothers are praying--send our sons back home
You marched them away--yes, you did--on ships and planes
To the senseless war, facing death in vain

Bring the boys home (bring 'em back alive)
Bring the boys home (bring 'em back alive)
Bring the boys home (bring 'em back alive)
Bring the boys home (bring 'em back alive)
Turn the ships around, lay your weapons down

Can't you see 'em march across the sky, all the soldiers that have died
Tryin' to get home--can't you see them tryin' to get home?
Tryin' to get home--they're tryin' to get home
Seesaw fire on the battlefield
Enough men have already been wounded or killed

Bring the boys home (bring 'em back alive)
Bring the boys home (bring 'em back alive)
Bring the boys home (bring 'em back alive)
Bring the boys home (bring 'em back alive)
Turn the ships around, lay your weapons down
(Mothers, fathers and lovers, can't you see them)

Oooh, oooh...
Tryin' to get home--can't you see them tryin' to get home?
Oooh, oooh...
Tryin' to get home--they're tryin' to get home

Bring the boys home (bring 'em back alive)
Bring the boys home (bring 'em back alive)
Bring the boys home (bring 'em back alive)
Bring the boys home (bring 'em back alive)
What they doing over there, now (bring 'em back alive)
When we need them over here, now (bring 'em back alive)
What they doing over there, now (bring 'em back alive)
When we need them over here, now (bring 'em back alive)

[saigon68]

21. THAT'S IT IT'S A HELL OF A SONG

the Brothers used to play it constantly--- The senior (white) lifers use to get really pissed off hearing it.

[crossroads]

22. ... link to a *clean* version of a rap song by Paris...

Enjoy!

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/media/2003/03/255608.mp3 <http://64.4.34.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=10ba00ad8b18921907d1970473b7291a&lat=1082784226&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eindymedia%2eorg%2euk%2fmedia%2f2003%2f03%2f255608%2emp3>


:kick:

[Khephra]

23. The new Ministry CD is supposed to be totally Anti-W.

Notice all the songs start with "W".

It comes out June 22nd.

Here's the first single:


No W
If this is really living
Then why am I so unforgiving
Half the world is down the toilet
Half on its way

If I had a dollar for every time he hollers
Trust us with your hearts and minds
Or I'll make you pay

Trust me -- 2x

Ask me why you're feeling screwed
And I'll give you the answer
There's a Colon Dick & Bush
Justa hammerin' away

Ask me why you feel deceived
Stripped of all your liberties
It doesn't take a genius to explain
That today

Trust me -- 2x


1. No W
2. Waiting
3. Worthless
4. Wrong
5. Warp City
6. WTV
7. World
8. WKYJ
9. Worm
10. Psalm 23 (Bonus Track)
11. Walrus (Bonus Track)

http://www.prongs.org/ministry/houses#now

[Mokito]

25. Is it just me?

Or is there a message behind the overwhelming use of titles beginning with a "W"?

[Khephra]

34. Yep, you got it.

The whole CD is supposed to be anti-Bush...not just one song this time.

I expect it will become the living soundtrack of many DUers once it's out.

[Zhade]

32. Ministry? Word. Thanks for the heads-up!

Listen to "N.W.O." from Plasm 69 - every bit as relevant as it was back in "the day".

[Zhade]

26. Sum 41? PUNK?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, corporate punk sure is rebellious!

Still, I will admit their hearts are in the right place.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

35. in the liner notes...

for rock against bush fat mike basically says it doesn't matter what you think about these bands on this album, they are coming together for one purpose and it is about reaching as many people as possible.

i could care less for sum 41 but they are a tad 'punker' to me now for getting on board.

[thebigidea]

31. and before protest song was having vengeance, it was locked in a room:

http://www.terminalproduct.com/noisespew.htm

Take that, ya scurvy record industry scum!

[hellbound-liberal]

38. How about AntiFlag's The Terror State?

They take on all aspects of the misguided foreign policy of the neocons. It's got a bit of an edge to it but well worth a listen. I also highly recommend Steve Earle's Just an American Boy. It's a live version of some of his recent work and contains a good bit of his feelings against war and the death penalty. I am a big fan of his!

[catmandu57]

40. A golden oldie "Tom Paxton Lyndon Johnson told the Nation"

Change the words Vietnam to Iraq and the same situation exists today. I wish someone would cover it, or that he would update his work.

[yellowcanine]

43. John Prine's "Flag Decal Heavan" is still relevant.....

Well while digesting Reader's Digest
In the back of a dirty book store,
A flag decal, with gum on the back,
Fell out on the floor.
So I picked it up and I ran outside
And I slapped on my windowshield,
And if I could see old Betsy Ross now
I tell her how good I feel.

Chorus
Oh but your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
They're already overcrowded
From your dirty little wars.
Now Jesus he don't like killin'
No matter what the reason is for,
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.

(Well) I went into the bank this morning
and the teller she said to me,
"If you join our Chrismas club
we'll give you ten of those flags for free."
So I didn't mess around a bit
and I took her up on what she said.
And I stuck those stickers
all over my car And one on my wife's forehead.

Chorus

(Well) I got my car so stickered up
That I couldn't see.
Then I ran it right upside a curb
And then right into a tree.
By the time they called a doctor down
I was already dead.
And I'll never understand why the man
Standing at the Pearly Gates said...

Chorus

[porkrind]

44. After Bliss

Cool protest song heard on the Randi Rhodes show:

http://www.afterbliss.com/Iwill.mp3
http://www.afterbliss.com

I will be the one to bring you down
I was next in line to wear the crown
I have your possessions in my hand
I pull out the rug on which you stand
...
Jesus loves me, he gives me control
I stole the country, now I steal its soul
I will be the one who's keeping score
I will save the world with righteous war

---

Read about the Right-Wing "Master Plan": http://www.zmag.org/chomsky/sam/sam-contents.html

Have you read "War is a Racket"?: http://lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisaracket.htm

[Columbia]

45. Hey hey! Ho ho!

This protest song has got to go!